… Chief Govt Whip asks Ranil to confirm his candidature without further delay

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, said that a final decision hadn’t been taken regarding his candidature at the forthcoming presidential election. Minister Rajapakshe said that he was engaged in talks with the relevant parties at the moment in this regard.

The Justice Minister said so when The Island asked him yesterday (14) when would he resign from President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Cabinet to contest the presidential election on the ticket of a political party backed by former President Maithripala Sirisena.

The President’s Counsel declined to comment further due to the ongoing dialogue with parliamentarian Sirisena’s group. MP Sirisena on May Day declared that Minister Rajapakshe would contest the presidential election.

Both Sirisena and Rajapakshe entered Parliament on the SLPP ticket at the last general election conducted in August 2020.

The former President Sirisena’s move to field Dr. Rajapakshe at the presidential election with the SLFP’s backing went awry due to Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva receiving the chairmanship of the party, thanks to the Colombo District Court ruling in favour of his faction.

Of the 12 elected and one appointed on the SLPP National List at the last general election, the majority backed President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s candidacy though the UNP leader is yet to officially announce his intention to contest. However, Angajan Ramanathan won a seat for the SLFP in the Jaffna electoral district.

Director (Planning and Research) at the Election Commission Channda de Silva yesterday told The Island that the EC would receive the power coming Wednesday (17) to announce nomination dates. The top official said that the EC would brief the media tomorrow (16) morning at 10.30 am regarding the forthcoming election.

Responding to another query, de Silva said that the EC didn’t have to make the relevant announcement on July 17 but in terms of the Constitution the next President should be elected by Oct 16, one month before Nov 16, 2024.

The SLFP-led by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and the Alliance also consisting of rebel SLPP MPs yesterday held a major rally at Badulla in support of the Wickremesinghe candidature. The SLFP-New Alliance combine is represented in the Cabinet by Nimal Siripala, Mahinda Amaraweera, Leader of the House Susil Premjayantha and Nalin Fernando.

A spokesperson for the grouping said that the Badulla rally was the third since they launched the campaign recently. Earlier rallies were held in Ambalantota and Wellawaya.

Meanwhile, Chief Government Whip and Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga on Saturday (13) demanded that President Wickremesinghe declare his candidature without further delay.

Addressing a group of SLPP supporters at Udugampola, Gampaha, Minister Ranatunga emphasized that contrary to claims the SLPP lacked a suitable person to contest the presidential poll.

The declaration was made in the wake of the announcement made by SLPP National List MP Dhammika Perera that he was ready to be the ruling party’s candidate.

Minister Ranatunga disclosed that a public rally would be held in Kadawatha next Sunday (21) under the patronage of President Wickremesinghe.

Minister Ranatunga emphasized the importance and the responsibility on the part of SLPP lawmakers to campaign in the provinces as the vast majority of the electorate appreciated the Wickemesinghe-Rajapaksha handling of post-July 2022 developments.

While reiterating his support for Wickremesinghe’s candidature even if the SLPP refused to officially ensure his candidature, Minister Ranatunga said that the UNP leader was the only person among the likely candidates capable of winning the confidence of the international community.